National briefs

Rio Tinto
’s Pilbara iron ore train drivers and car examiners have voted in favour of union representation, with 82 per cent approving it in a ballot. Rio Pilbara operations president Greg Lilleyman told employees the miner would apply to Fair Work Australia for approval of the agreement.Jamie Freed

The federal Coalition has ruled out removing penalty rates in order to cut the cost of labour despite calls from Liberal backbencher
John Alexander
for ways to help small business owners. Coalition employment spokesman
Eric Abetz
said: “We will not be taking away penalty rates." David Crowe

Australia’s new ambassador to China, Frances Adamson, will present her credentials to Chinese president Hu Jintao today. Ms Adamson replaces Geoff Raby who retired from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Robert Guy

Former director Simon Finnigan was committed to stand trial on 14 charges of dishonest conduct involving investor funds of more than $2.2 million. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission alleges Mr Finnigan used investor funds for personal use.

Staff reporter

An LNP candidate who sent an email to dozens of people saying he hoped Prime Minister
Julia Gillard
“follows the history" of assassinated US President John F. Kennedy, says a family member wrote the offending line. Paul Freebody, LNP candidate for the state seat of Cairns, has had his party membership suspended. AAP

A series of failures by doctors in two Sydney hospitals contributed to the tragic and unnecessary death of an eight-year-old boy who had appendicitis, a coroner has found. A series of blunders resulted in Jacob Belim waiting 12½ hours for treatment. The coroner said the boy’s death was a preventable tragedy. AAP